Surgical instrument with secondary jaw closure feature

摘要

An apparatus for operating on tissue includes an outer sheath, upper and lower jaws connected at a pivot point, and a firing beam comprising a distal pair of flanges. The firing beam is configured to be received within slots defined in the upper and lower jaws to close the jaws. A proximal portion of the upper jaw defines a lever arm, and a free end of the lever arm extends proximally past a distal end of the lower jaw and proximally past the pivot point. The lever arm includes a pair of segments defining a portion of the slot of the upper jaw. The segments are configured for receipt through an outer sheath aperture. The pair of segments are operable to abut a distal end of the distal pair of flanges or be driven by the distal pair of flanges to assist with closure of the jaws.

主权项

1. An apparatus for operating on tissue, the apparatus comprising:
(a) an end effector assembly comprising:
(i) an upper jaw having a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the proximal portion of the upper jaw defines a lever arm,(ii) a lower jaw pivotally connected to the upper jaw at a pivot point, wherein the distal portion of the upper jaw extends distally past the pivot point wherein the lever arm extends proximally relative to the pivot point from the pivot point along the proximal portion of the upper jaw, and(iii) a firing beam configured to be received within slots defined in the upper and lower jaws to close the jaws, wherein the firing beam has a proximal jaw driving feature configured to engage a portion of the lever arm extending proximally relative to the pivot point from the pivot point along the proximal portion of the upper jaw, wherein the proximal driving feature is configured to impart force to the lever arm about the pivot point and thereby drive the upper jaw closed toward the lower jaw; (b) a body operable to communicate with the end effector assembly; and (c) a shaft extending between the end effector assembly and the body, wherein the shaft comprises an outer sheath, wherein the outer sheath defines an aperture, and wherein a portion of the lever arm that extends from the pivot point along the proximal portion of the upper jaw extends through the aperture in at least one pivotal position of the upper jaw.